A Guardian and His Protector
Back in the time of war there was a little Jewish boy who lived with his grandfather the Rabbi. This time of war was not a safe place for anyone of Jewish descent. Nazi Germany was a rising tide throughout Europe and death followed wherever the Germans went. The Rabbi was at an age now where he could not protect himself from these forces nor could he protect his grandson. The grandson, whose name was Yaniv, was only thirteen. He did not quite fully understand the danger of the world around him but knew that things were not safe.
A crash came from above and Nazis rushed down into the basement. Before they could get even one shot off, the giant attacked. It was fast for its size and surprised the Germans. Yaniv stood there shocked with bodies lying on the floor surrounded by pools of blood. He checked the bodies for useful materials and found a list. Calmly Yaniv packed a bag with everything necessary to survive. He commanded the Golem to follow him outside. Yaniv now understood what the world was around him. He also knew what he had to do: save his people from the dangers that lurked around them.
Yaniv set out on the path towards the next town over. Once there he had a list of all the houses that were filled with people of Jewish descent. He had gained this list from one of the Nazis that attacked him in the basement of his home. Yaniv and the Golem cleared the town of Nazis and saved the people. The people were amazed by the Golem and the way he moved. The speed was incredible and it had the strength of one thousand men.
The next town over Yaniv and his Golem were met by American soldiers. Yaniv explained the situation to the Americans and the Americans decided to help the young boy and his Golem. The group became an unstoppable force that swept through Germany and saved millions of Jewish lives.
By the time the war ended Yaniv was seventeen. Still so young, but so wise for his age. The number of lives saved had tallied up to over two million. Yaniv was weary from his travels across Germany. He settled in a small town and created a new life. His home was located in a safe haven surrounded by woods. He became a Rabbi himself and was the youngest in his family to do so. The people respected the boy and knew that they were safe with him.
Yaniv curiously asked, "Grandfather, why are these men taking our friends away?"
"Hush, do not speak of this outside where others can hear," snapped the Grandfather.
The Rabbi knew there was something in the ancient scripts that he had seen before. The scripts were something that he could use to keep the two of them safe in the time of war. He searched all through the night in his library and finally had found it. In the old writings there was a formula to write a script. Only three families knew of the secret script and the Rabbi happened to be one of them.
Yaniv watched his grandfather start to build a giant sculpture from clay. Curious once again he asked, "Grandfather, what are you doing?"
"Protecting us," he replied.
"But how will a sculpture made clay protect us?" asked Yaniv.
The Grandfather ignored him and kept working, knowing that Yaniv would know in time. As the night passed there were explosions and gunfire in the distance. The Rabbi was worried that there would not be enough time to finish. In a frantic rush he worked faster. Yaniv was still curious but was also frightened and could not sleep that night. He watched his grandfather build this sculpture that seemed to almost touch the ceiling from the ground up. Every detail was precise and seemed to have a specific purpose.
By morning the Rabbi had finished the sculpture and the final touch was to bring the object to life. The only problem was that the Rabbi had disappeared. Yaniv had fallen asleep at some point and woke up alone in the basement with this sculpture. There was a note placed on the table.
"Yaniv, my grandson, I am truly sorry for not being able to say goodbye. The bad people of this world have come too close and I will not be able to place the final touch on the sculpture. You may not understand now but you will. There is a script written on the table. Roll this up and place it inside the sculpture's mouth. The sculpture is known to our people as a Golem. Do not be alarmed. He is here to protect you. I have given you enough time to complete this task. The bad people will be back. Do not be afraid anymore, my child. I love you.
-Love,
Grandfather."
The script that the Rabbi had written was on an old cloth, with the names of the Rabbi and the child on the backside. This ensured that the Golem would only obey Yaniv and himself. Yaniv heard knocking at the door and knew that he was out of time. He quickly rolled up the cloth and placed it in the giant's mouth. Its eyes and mouth began to glow.
By morning the Rabbi had finished the sculpture and the final touch was to bring the object to life. The only problem was that the Rabbi had disappeared. Yaniv had fallen asleep at some point and woke up alone in the basement with this sculpture. There was a note placed on the table.
"Yaniv, my grandson, I am truly sorry for not being able to say goodbye. The bad people of this world have come too close and I will not be able to place the final touch on the sculpture. You may not understand now but you will. There is a script written on the table. Roll this up and place it inside the sculpture's mouth. The sculpture is known to our people as a Golem. Do not be alarmed. He is here to protect you. I have given you enough time to complete this task. The bad people will be back. Do not be afraid anymore, my child. I love you.
-Love,
Grandfather."
The script that the Rabbi had written was on an old cloth, with the names of the Rabbi and the child on the backside. This ensured that the Golem would only obey Yaniv and himself. Yaniv heard knocking at the door and knew that he was out of time. He quickly rolled up the cloth and placed it in the giant's mouth. Its eyes and mouth began to glow.
The Golem was alive. He stood up and in a loud booming voice said, "I am yours to command."
A crash came from above and Nazis rushed down into the basement. Before they could get even one shot off, the giant attacked. It was fast for its size and surprised the Germans. Yaniv stood there shocked with bodies lying on the floor surrounded by pools of blood. He checked the bodies for useful materials and found a list. Calmly Yaniv packed a bag with everything necessary to survive. He commanded the Golem to follow him outside. Yaniv now understood what the world was around him. He also knew what he had to do: save his people from the dangers that lurked around them.
Yaniv set out on the path towards the next town over. Once there he had a list of all the houses that were filled with people of Jewish descent. He had gained this list from one of the Nazis that attacked him in the basement of his home. Yaniv and the Golem cleared the town of Nazis and saved the people. The people were amazed by the Golem and the way he moved. The speed was incredible and it had the strength of one thousand men.
The next town over Yaniv and his Golem were met by American soldiers. Yaniv explained the situation to the Americans and the Americans decided to help the young boy and his Golem. The group became an unstoppable force that swept through Germany and saved millions of Jewish lives.
By the time the war ended Yaniv was seventeen. Still so young, but so wise for his age. The number of lives saved had tallied up to over two million. Yaniv was weary from his travels across Germany. He settled in a small town and created a new life. His home was located in a safe haven surrounded by woods. He became a Rabbi himself and was the youngest in his family to do so. The people respected the boy and knew that they were safe with him.
As time went on there came a time where the Golem no longer had to protect them from the dangers of the Nazis, but the Golem stayed in hiding. He could be still for years at a time with no damage to the sculpture. The Golem has been passed down through generations and still is in storage to this day. Waiting for another time of need, and when the time comes he will be ready.
The Golem Brought to Life by the Rabbi
Photo Provided by: Wikimedia Commons
Author's note: This story was produced from the idea of a story that was part of the Jewish Fairy Tales section of the reading, though the actual story was a Rabbi who created a "Bogey-man" to protect himself from the king. The King saw that the Rabbi had brought an inanimate object to life and was going to have him killed if he could not do it again. So the Rabbi did but made sure that the new being protected him from the King's doings. I made this story to fit the terrible time in the lives of the Jewish people because it brings an aspect of good to the table where they were able to fight back rather than be mass murdered by Nazi Germany. Everyone of this world is a human being and the prejudiced people are ignorant and evil. This story shows the oppressed rising up against the odds. Dealt the worst possible hand in life, Yaniv and his grandfather figured out a way to turn the tide and beat the enemy that oppressed them. This story that I have created has so much meaning to me because my best friend is Jewish and to this day there are still prejudices that he faces. I have seen firsthand how cruel people can be simply because of his religion. I hope this story gives a little more insight of what the Jewish community has been through and still goes through today. And I hope that it opens some people's eyes to how we need to change as a society and learn to come together as a community rather than tear each other apart simply based on different beliefs. The protection of people should not have to be a concern if it is simply because of differences in beliefs.
Bibliography: "The Rabbi's Bogey-Man" from Jewish Fairy Tales by Gertrude Landa web source